Cup-dispensing machine



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,147

T. M. PRUDDEN CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed May 18. 1925 11506122?! waeodazwhwda'elz Patented Nov. 8 1927.

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PATENT.EICE.

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Application filed May 18,1925. Serial m. 30,939.

In the dispensing of papercups the most desirable presentation is from the bottom of a nested stack in which the cups are sanitarily'enclosed and supportedby the bottom cup and only the bottom of the lower cup ex posed so that it can be seized and withdrawn. "A great variety of mechanisms have been devisedfor releasing this bottom cup while catching and holding the next cup so as to support it and through it the rest of the column. 1 l l These mechanisms are usually expensive and are liable to get out of order at just the time when their serviceis most needed as in rush hours thereb .causin dela forre airs a i a:

and loss of business. I

My invention eliminates the necessityfor I moving-parts byyproviding a fixed stop or stops which support'the'cup rim'but permit passage by making a tiny incision which is thereafter almost undetectable.

As illustrative of my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings a form of dispenser embodying my invention in simple form and well adapted to practical use. To identify the corresponding parts, conventional reference characters are employed. The views are as follows: I

Fig.1 is a vertical section through the discharge end of such a device showing the cup stack in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the lower cup in the first stage of withdrawal.

Fig. 3 illustrates the first cup as released and the next supported.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan of a cup lip supported, and a Fig. 5 is the same being released. V

The cup tube 1 has its lower end fitted within and supported by a nozzle member 2, having a delivery mouth 3. At one or more points lugs 6 are struck from the back of the nozzle 2. To the lugs 6 are detachably secured by screws or pins 7 a corner of a thin two-edged blade 5. This may very conveniently, as shown, be similar to a half of one of the popular thin safety razor blades now on the market.

The pins 7 hold the blade properly positioned on. an incline with any corner presented inwardly-so as to just support the rim 8 of a cup G placed thereon.

jVVhen it is desired to use a cup C, the

" lower portion of the bottom cup is grasped and simply pulled down. In so doing the rolled rim of'the cup is neatl'y incised as a v at 8 "(F1g. 5) and the cup'rim passes the blade corner or corners so that it can be withdrawn and the next cup supported as in Figsiiand.v 1 v The cups may each be withdrawn in turn, being. fed by gravity mostconveniently; In

fillingitis onlynecessary not to drop the cup columntoo .violently'on the supporting blades sincewhile they willsupport the usual column without cuttingfithey' are apt if sharp, to. cut through the bottom cup of a column if dropped so as to giveanybonsids erable-impact Y My invention is capable of varied application and design, but is presented in simple form as best disclosing the invention while giving a practical device of immediate value.

All variants, modificationsyand substitus tion of parts are to be understoodas within the purview of my invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

What Itherefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a magazine adapted to confine a nested column of flanged top paper containers in such position as to permit successively theoutermost containerin the cor unm to be grasped and withdrawn singly from the column, and a stop mounted. adj acent the delivery end of the magazine and. presenting an incising edge projecting into the path of withdrawing movement of the containers whereby to engage the flanged top of the contactingcontainer inthe column and prevent accidental withdrawal thereof, said stop effective when the terminal container is grasped and positively withdrawn fromthe column to incise the flanged top of said container and thus permit its passage therepastand immediately to.en-' gage the flanged top of the next outermost container in the column whereby again to ifiiaintain the containers in columnar assem- 2. In combination, a magazine adapted to confine a nested column of flanged top paper containers in such position as to permit successively the lowermost contain-er in the I column to be grasped and withdrawn sin ly from below, and a pair of oppositely dis posed stops mounted adjacent the delivery end of the magazine and presenting incisin edges projecting into the path of descent o the containers whereby toengage the flanged its incising edge projecting into the path of top of the contacting container in the column and support. the column against accidental release, said stops effective when the terminal container is grasped from below andi positively withdrawn from the column .to incise the flanged top of the container next above in the column Wherebyagain to support the column.

3; In combination, a magazine adapted:- to confine a column of incisable articles to be dispensed in such position as to permit-sue 'cessive-ly the terminal article'of the column to bev graspecland withdrawn singly, and a relatively'thin blade. mounted adjacent the delivery end of the magazine and presenting descent of the articles whereby to engage the terminal article of the column, said blade effective when the terminal article is posilowermost container in the column and support the column against accidental release, said blades effective when the lowermost container is grasped from below and positively' withdrawn from the' colu'm'n to incise the flanged top of the said container and thus. permit its passage therepast and immediately to engage the flanged top of the container next above in the column'whereby again to support the column.

.5; Means for releasably supporting a column of, nestedv paper containers having flanged tOPSQfiOlBPriSHlg a pair of oppositely disposed stops each presenting an incising edge prqectlng constantly into the path of withdrawmg movement of the containers,

whereby to engage thefl-anged top of the lowermost container in the column and sup,- port the column against accidental release, said blades effective when the lowermost container is grasped from below and positively Withdrawn from the column to inc'ise the flanged stop of said container andth-us permit its passage t-herepastand'immedi atelyto engage 'the flanged top of the container next. above in the column whereby again tosnpport the column.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THEODORE MQPRUDDEN. 

